ISSUE: Ever heard of the First Amendment?Apparently, it doesn't apply if you're in church.

There are limits to what your preacher can say from the pulpit -- limits placed there by the government. Now, a bill introduced in Congress seeks to change the law.

If a church speaks out on issues that the IRS deems to be too political, it risks losing its tax-exempt status. But the "Houses of Worship Free Speech Restoration Act" (H.R. 235) would repeal the authority of the Internal Revenue Service to revoke the tax status of a church, temple, or mosque whose clergy speak out.

Rep. Walter Jones (R-NC), who introduced the bill, explained how the problem of churches speaking out on political issues arose.

"Lyndon Johnson in 1954 put an amendment on a revenue bill that stifled the ministers, priests and rabbis from being able to speak of moral and political issues," Jones said. "That's not what America's about. America's about freedom. And we've got to have freedom in the churches." He said Johnson's amendment has had a chilling effect that fails to define where their speech is actually protected. He also contended the restrictions have not been impartially enforced.

"I think all churches should be treated the same," Jones said. "They should have freedom to talk about these issues."

ACTION ITEM: All houses of worship SHOULD be treated the same. They should have freedom to talk about any issues affecting any aspect of society -- including politics. Anything else is simply un-American.

As Rep. Jones stated, "This legislation goes beyond party lines and theological debates. We must not allow a government institution to have this kind of chilling effect over America's churches."

Rep. Jones' bill is supported by religious leaders from all faiths, and he now has over 120 co-sponsors on this simple straightforward legislation that will finally give back to churches and other houses of worship what was unjustly taken from them 49 years ago: the freedom to speak however they feel led to speak, whether the issue is construed as political or not.

Go to our site below to ask your Representative to support H.R. 235, the "Houses of Worship Free Speech Restoration Act":

Without preachers and their sermons, there would have been no American Revolution. John Witherspoon, Jonathan Mayhew, Abraham Keteltas, James Caldwell, Peter Muhlenberg and other clergy not only gave Biblical justification to the war but often served in combat themselves. And today, thanks to LBJ, the IRS and some recent Supreme Court rulings, religion and politics are not allowed to mingle.

Freedom of speech does not stop at the Church, Synogogue, Temple, Mosque door, nor does it stop at the school door. You anti-God Bigots are all alike. You want freedom of speech until it steps on your immoral toes.

7
posted on 05/19/2003 8:34:12 PM PDT
by webber
(Demon-rats: don't confuse me with the constitution, I have have my own rules.)

Note that this law has in fact been used, but only against pro-Republican churches. When Al Sharpton or Jesse Jackson get in front of a pulpit and talk politics, the IRS looks the other way. Thus getting rid of the law would be a good idea.

I'm reminded of political speeches in black churches and Democratic Party "walking around" money. I'm reminded of church's involvement in gun control, in the Elian Gonzalez case, in gay rights, etc. Church hierarchies these days tend toward the liberal positions. This is, of course, why they are considering changing the rules. Even if they do change the rules, they won't be applied evenly. You can bet that the Episcopal or Methodist churches will be treated much differently than a fundamentalist non-denominational.

I'm not religious, but I strongly support the right of free speech for everyone, no matter how unpopular their views might be. As long as they are not directly and specifically inciting violence they should enjoy the right to say whatever they want to say. That applies to churches and other public and private places. I'm a stickler for that. So, here's at least one unbeliever who will stand up for your right to preach whatever you want to at your church.

10
posted on 05/19/2003 8:41:32 PM PDT
by Billy_bob_bob
("He who will not reason is a bigot;He who cannot is a fool;He who dares not is a slave." W. Drummond)

You anti-God Bigots are all alike. You want freedom of speech until it steps on your immoral toes.

Oh, spare me your sanctimonious drivel, will ya?

Freedom of speech applies to government not being able to take away your liberty because of something you say. What this article talks about is the IRS taking away your free pass on taxes because of something you say. It's not that difficult to understand.

So, here's at least one unbeliever who will stand up for your right to preach whatever you want to at your church.

Count me, as well. But no one has suggested that these folks would be imprisoned for whatever they say in church. As a matter of fact, the IRS is proposing that they be treated EXACTLY like every other citizen, if they abuse the special privileges they now enjoy.

Churches and other agencies dispense BILLIONS OF HELP TO THE POOR, DISADVANTAGED, HURTING ETC.

WITH FAR, FAR, FAR LESS OVERHEAD FOR THE BLOATED BUREAUCRACY THAN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT EVER THOUGHT OF DOING.

I would be for encouraging more of the same and NOT for transferring more such into the wasted black hole of the Federal bureaucracy.

That said. I think people who give to God to get a tax write-off have already received their reward as Jesus said, in essence. I think giving to God by giving to the poor or however else should be so private that one's left hand doesn't know what one's right hand is doing--as the NT teaches.

The hideous thing about the free speech thing is that liberal churches have gotten away with supporting black and other liberal speakers speaking TOTALLY POLITICAL TALKS FOR DECADES with impunity.

But let a conservative religious leader do it and the liberals scream like the stuck liberal pigs they are.

Oh, that a BRILLIANT idea. Nevermind the truism that "you tax that which you want to inhibit". Forget the founding notions of separation of Church and State. Ignore the fact that religion does far more for the indigent that government could ever hope to do. Pay no mind to the inevitable IRS assaults on Churches when they are audited. Close your eyes to the reality that unpopular churches (read: kooks) will be targeted for audits (read: government-sanctioned harassment for people based on their beliefs).

Unions should stay out of politics. Lawyers should stay out of politics. Women should stay out of politics. Judges should stay out of politics. Minorities should stay out of politics. Lobbyists should stay out of politics. Politicians should stay out of politics. Democrats should stay out of politics.

Out of all of those groups, I'd have to say that churches and minorities have done the least amount of damage to the Constitution. Get rid of the others first, and then we'll talk about the churches.

{Note that this law has in fact been used, but only against pro-Republican churches. When Al Sharpton or Jesse Jackson get in front of a pulpit and talk politics, the IRS looks the other way.}

You got that right. Al Sharpton's Presidential Campaign is through a vast network of African-American churches. No one is complaining about the "Separation of Church & State." The IRS should either enforce the law on everyone, Jerry Falwell to Al Sharpton, or repeal the law.

Every major social movement in American history has been preached from pulpits. The Revolution, Abolition, Manifest Destiny, Prohibition, the Civil Rights movement...you name it, churches were in the thick of it.

There is no historical nor consitutional basis for your desire for churches to "stay out of politics."

Out of all of those groups, I'd have to say that churches and minorities have done the least amount of damage to the Constitution. Get rid of the others first, and then we'll talk about the churches.

Given the fact that most organized denominations are liberal these days its no wonder they are thinking about changing the rules. Even if they change the rules, they will be enforced differently for conservative denominations as opposed to the major liberal denominations. Tell me I am wrong. Why would you want this?

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